Steam iron



July `l1, 1944. E; 'o. MoRToN STEAM IRON Filed Aug. 5, 1941 INVENTORELDRED O.MoRToN gra? WITNESSES:

Pluma .my 11,1944

Elllred 0. Morton,

meld, Westinghouse Electric t Manuf lllvaasltfittsblrxh, Ps., acorporation of my, Pennsy smug mor:

om, am wnv notizia; Comlpleatlon August 5, 1941, Serial N ll. 405,463

- s om. (ci. se-m 'mais invention relates to `steam irons andparticularly to that type of .steam iron having a steam generatorandmeans for supplying water thereto,

and it has for an object to provide an improved steam iron of thecharacter set forth.

In steam irons having va steam generator and a water reservoir builtinto the upper part or cover of the iron, it is desirable to use Sheetmetal, Y

to form the reservoir walls preferably aluminum, in order to reduce thedead weight of the iron and to facilitate its manufacture. Steam ironsof this typenre usually provided with a valve for conirollingthe new ofwater from the reservoir to the steam generator, and it has beennecessary in assembling and adjusting the valve parts of some steamirons to either work through anopenlnglnthetopvvallazfthfereiservoirortothreariV a hole in the bottomwall of the reservoir and screw the valve parte, sueh as the valve seat,into this threaded hole. However., emcient and attractive design., it isnot always desirable to have a. large opening in the top of thereservoir. else, a reservoir wall of relatively thin sheet metal doesnot furnish. sumelent material for strong, durable threads to supportthe valve parts. This Is particularly true in the ease of aluminumsheet, which is very weak under shearing stress.

The mamlfaoturer of steam irons is faced also with the ever presentproblem of preventing elogglng of the water and steam passages by thedeposit of mineral `:soltar and the like whleh are precipitated from thewater as it is converted into steam. The problem of preventing ologgingof the water passage leading tothe steam generator is particularly acutein that any change in the water-carrying capacity of this passageprevents accurate control of the amount o! steam supplied Y to the workbeing pressed.

The present invention has for an object to pmvide an improved steam iron`cmustnnotion oi' emclent and `1:1.II.|::tiea1l design which may bereadily led and serviced. b

It is a further object of the invention to provide lan improved steamiron n-in which.

the water ow to `the stm generator maybe maintained at a substantiallyuniform rate.

Theseand otherobjectsare enacted bymy invention as will be apparent fromthe following description and claims tlkenlnoonnectlonwlth theaccompanying drawing, Vforming a partof this application, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly broken away substantially along thelongitudinal center, of a to obtain a simple,

Vheated:steamix'on steemlronmadeinaeeordan withtbepresmt invention.Fg.'2lsataryseotionalviewofapor tion of Hg. 1, shown onanenlarged scale;

fig'isabottomplanviewofthetoeorfront portion of the iron shown inFlz. 1;

Fig.4isaviewsimilart0l'lg.2,lllustratin slightly modlied form of theinvention;

VIi'lgl51sahottomphmvlew f1 to Fig. 3,1llustratingamodiiledformo!theinvention;

Flglsalongltudinalsectionofaportlonoithebottomwallofthereservoiroftheironshown inllglandanothermodiilcationoftheinventiomand F1g.7isasideviewofavalvestemadaptedto beusedwiththeconstmetlonilluztratedinrlgs. Zand 4. Y

Reerringto the drawing and partlcularlyto Figs. 1. 2. and`3, there isshown-an electricallygmeraily indicated Il, which comprises abaseox'soleplatelLacover member I2 andahandlell. Thelxandlemaybemadeot anysuitableheatdnsulating material while the cover I2 is preferably made ofmetal sheet. such as aluminum, ycopper or the like. '111e soleplate IIisheatedbymeans ofanarmoredheatlngelement I4 carried by or cast intheooleplate. The heating element is preferably U-.ahaped as shown in Fig.3 providing a bisht orlooped portion II Y in which the steam generator,to be hereinafter described, islocated, wherebyamaximum amount of heatis available for the generation o! steam. Theheatingelement Ilis l tobeconneotedtoan electric outlet (not shown) bymeans of a. oord Ii, theconductors of which are oonneetedtotheendsotheheatingelementlnserieswlth an adjustable thermostat generaux' indicated I1 (Bg. 1).Thethermtat, IIlsadaptedtcbe adjusted manually by-means of a knob Ilfixed totheupperendofthethermostatadjustingrod II. This rod extendsthrough a sleeve 2l which is brazed, soldered or otherwise suitablysecured in fluid-tight relation to the upper and lower walls Il and 22,respectively, of a water `2l provided in the cover I2.V Thelower wall22- and the endwall 24,1Ike thecover I2. arepreferahlymadeofrelativelythinaheetmetalsxmh um, ooppenorthelike. Theaoleplate II, as mennnednbove, earth: a steam This steam generator isformedbymeansota I-theaoleplnteandopeningontheironlngmrfaceIt'ThelowerendolthIsreoessisclosedblrecess lipreferablycastln sure afluid-tight joint.

be screw threaded to engage threads formed in the lateral wall of therecess. This disc or plug together with the walls of the recess 251defines a chamber a.

The upper surface of the plug 21 is provided with an annular rib orbaille member 28 which divides the chamber 25a into a steam-generatingcompartment 29 and a steam distributing compartment 3|). The steamdistributing compartment 30 communicates with the ironing surface of thesoleplate throughsteam ports 3l provided inthe plug 21. The steam ports3| also serve as tool receiving openings whereby the plug may be readilyremoved for cleaning or servicing of the iron.

It will be noted .that the lower surface of the plug 21 is raised abovethe plane of the ironing surface 26 and that the surface of thesoleplate adjacent the plug flares outwardly from the plug to provide ashallow steam pocket or recess 32. The pocket 32 aids in distributingthe steam, emitted from the ports 3|, over a substantial area of thematerial being pressed. The body of steam in the pocket 32 has the addedfunction of serving as a cushion to facilitate movement of the iron overthe material being pressed. Another important advantage in providing thepocket 32 is that close tolerances in the formation of the recess 25 andthe plug 21 need not be maintained since the lower surface of the plugis above the plane of the ironing surface 26 of the iron and will notcatch on the material being pressed. To further protect the materialbeing ironed it is preferred to vround. the edge of the soleplate atvthe recess 25 and also the lower edge `of the plug as shown at 33 inFigs. 2 and 4.

Water is supplied to the steam generating com-` partment 29 through vavalve-controlled outlet provided in the bottom wall 22 of the reservoir.This outlet, comprises a. bushing member 34 extending through an openingin the reservoir wall 22 and having a flange 35 engaging the upper orinner surface of this wall.w This bushing is preferably furnace-brazedto the wall 22 tov in- The bushing projects through an-opening providedin the upper wall of the soleplate which defines the top of theA recess25. The lower'end of the bushing isthreaded and receives a. clamp-nut31. This clamp-nut together with the flange 35 permits the wall 22 to bedrawn tightly against the boss 38 formed on the soleplate-to preventwater or steam from leaking into the space between the wall 22 and thetop surface of the soleplate.

The bushing 34 is provided with a central water passage 4| which isflared at its lower end as indicated at 42. The upper end of the passage4| is enlarged and loosely receives the valve stem 43. The inclinedportion between the central passage 4| and the enlarged passagesprovidesa valve seat 44 adapted to be engaged by the tapered portion 45 of thevalve stem for closing the passage 4|. A cylindrical extension 46 on thelower end ofthe valve stem, which terminates in a relatively longtapered end,ris snugly but slidably and rotatably received within thecentral passage 4| when the valve stem engages the seat 44.

`This cylindrical v'tension 46 is referably at least as long as thepassage 4| and serves to ream or scrape out any salt deposits or dirt,which may accumulate on the walls of this passage, each time the valvestem is moved downwardly to close the valve. 'When the valve stem isforced downwardly to closed position, the relatively sharp edge 41 ofthe extension 46 will scrape any deposits or dirt on the walls of thecentral passage, thus insuring a passage of uniform cross section. Ifdesired, the scraping edge 41 on the cylindrical extension may beaccentuated as shown in Fig. rI by slightly undercutting the pointed endas indicated at 43 to provide a right-angle shoulder. The tapered endportion of the extension 46 cooperates with the inner edge of the valveseat 44 to provide the desired throttling'of the water'ow to the steamgenerator, as will be clear from Fig. 4 wherein the valve is shown inpartly open position.

The valve stem extends upwardly through a guide sleeve 49 which ispreferably xed at its lower end to the bushing 34 and brazed orsoldered' in liquid-tight relation to the upper Wall 2| of the reservoir23. The guide sleeve 49 and valve stem 43 extend through the upper wall2| of the reservoir and through the front portion of the handle. Theupper end of the valve stem carries an adjusting knob 5| and isexternally threaded to engage the internal threads provided in the upperend of the guidesleeve 49. It will be understood that. by turning theknob 5| in one direction or another, the valve stem may beraised orlowered to vary the annular space between the inner edge of the valveseat 44 and the tapered end portion of the extension 46 whereby the rateof ow of water to the steam generator may be regulated.

To close the valve, the knob 5| is turned'to i move the valve stem downfrom the position shown in Fig. 4 to the closed position shown in Fig.2. During this downward movement of the valve stem, the extension 46enters the passage 4| to substantially shut off the ilow of watertherethrough and simultaneously scrape any salt deposits from the wallof the passage. When the valve stem reaches the position shown in Fig.2, the shoulder engages the valve seat 4| to provide a liquid-tight sealand prevent water from flowing into the steam generator.

By flaring the lower end of the water passage in the bushing 34, thedrops of water flowing through thepassage 4 I will tend to spread outover this flared surface and distribute the water ,over a wide area ofthe steam generator and thereby facilitate evaporation of the water.

In Fig. 4, there has been illustrated a slightly modied arrangement forcoupling the steam generator to the Water reservoir. Thus, in Fig. 4,

a washer or grommet is furnace brazed to the lower wall of thereservoir. 'I'hs grommet may be made of brass or the like and isinternally threaded to receive external threads formed on a bushing 51.The bushing 51 is provided .with

a ange 56 which engages the inner wall of the recess 25 and when turnedinto the threads formed in the grommet will draw the grommet 55 intowater-tight and steam-tight relation with the soleplate to preventleakage of water or steam into the space between the reservoir and thesoleplate. As. shown inl Fig. 4 the valve stem guiding sleeve 49a may bemade integral* with the bushjects through the opening in the wall 2211sspun or turned over as indicated at 6I to securely clamp the grommet tothe wall 20; this operation being best performed on bottom plate 22before brazing I For example, in Fig. 5 the recess hasbeen shownextending toward the pointed end or toe of the iron.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it willbe obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptiblevof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forthin the appended claims.

What I claim ist l. A steam iron comprising a soleplate, a body securedto said soleplate, said body having a water storage chamber therein, asteam generator carried by said soleplate, means for heating saidsoleplate and steam generator, means including a substantially verticalpassage for conveying water from said chamber tosaid steam generator,the lower end of said passage flaring outwardly and downwardly, wherebywater flowing through said passage tends to spread out over the surfaceof the iiared lower end to distribute i. the water over a wide area ofsaid steam generaward flow of liquid throughsaid passage when saidshoulder is out of engagement with said valve seat, said tapered endportion being disposed in the lower flared end of said `passage whensaid shoulder is in engagement with said valve seat.

3. A valve for use in a steam iron comprising, a member having a passagetherethrough, said passage including a cylindrical portion and aA flaredconicalportion serving as a valve seat, a valve stem having a conicalshoulder at one end thereof adapted to engage 'said valve seat forclosing said passage, and a cylindrical extension on said one end ofsaid stem receivable in said cylindrical 4portion when said shoulder isin engagement with said valve seat, said cylindrical extension being ofbut slightly less diameter than said cylindrical portion and having atapered end portion, the junction of the surface of said tapered endportion with the cylindrical surface offsaid `extension being undercutto provide a substantially right angle shoulder adapted to scrapedeposits from the wall of said cylindrical portion as said extension ismoved into said cy- Y lindrical portion, the tapered end portion of saidextension being adapted to cooperate with the valve seat for throttlingthe ow of ,liquid through said passage when said shoulder is out ofengagement with said valve seat,

wr, said passage having a valve seat therein, and

a valve stem having a portion adapted' to engage said valve seat forclosing said passage, said valve stem having an extension thereonadapted to be received in said passage between said seat and saidgenerator when said valve stem engages said seat, the free end of saidextension being adapted to cooperate with said valve seat to regulatethe irate of flow of water through said passage when said valve stemportion is out of engagement with said valve seat.`

2. A valve for regulating the iiow of water in a steam iron of the typehaving a steam generator to which water is fed at a rate providingsubstantially instantaneous conversion of the water into steam, saidvalve comprising a member having 'a passage therethrough and adapted tobe mounted in the steam iron with the e opening into the steam generatorand extending vertically therefrom, said passage including a cylindricalportion having a valve seat at its upper end and opening at itslower endon an outwardly and downwardly flared portion, whereby, water iiowingdownwardly through said passage tends to spread out over the surface ofthe flared` portion, and a valve stem having a shoulder thereon adaptedto engage said seat for closing said passage, said valve stem having acylindrical extension extending downwardly from said shoulder,

said extension being of slightly less diameter than said cylindricalport/ion of said passage, said extension being located in saidcylindrical portion of said passagewhen said shoulder is in engagementwith said valve seat, said extension terminating in a tapered endportion which cooperatea with said valve seat for throttling the down-4. A steam iron comprising a body including a soleplate, a steamgenerator carried by said soleplate, means for heating said soleplateand steam generator, means including a valve for supplying water to saidsteam generator, said valve including a member having a vertical passagetherethrough opening at its lower end into said steam generator forconveying water to said steam generator, the lower end of said passageflaring outwardly and downwardly to distribute the water over a widearea of the steam generator, said member having a valve seat and a valvestem having a portion adapted to engage said valve seat for closing saidpassage, said valve stem having an "extension thereonl of a size butslightly less than said passage, said extension being located in saidpassage when said valve stem portion is in engagement with said seat,said extension having an edge portion adjacent the end remote from saidseat-engaging portion to scrape any deposits or the like from the wallof said passage as said extension is moved into said passage whenclosing said valve, the end of said extension cooperating with saidvalve seat toregulate the rate of iiow of water through said passagewhen said valve stem portion is out of engagement with said valve seat.

5. A steam iron comprising a body including a soleplate, a steamgenerator, means forheating said soleplate and steam generator, andmeans for supplying water to said steam generator, said last-mentionedmeans including a member mounted above said steam generator arid having:a vertical e therethrough opening at its generator.

amano o. NORTON.

